School Attendance Matters (SAM)

  • Attendance Matters

  • The SAM team supports schools and families in meeting students earlier in the attendance process. Our goal is to intervene in a preventative manner when schools refer students to our office.

Did you Know?

    • It’s important to communicate with your student’s school when they’re going to be absent. Inform the school about barriers to attendance and we will do our best to work with you and your student. 

    • Missing less than nine days of school each year helps students to stay engaged, experience success in their schoolwork and keep on track to graduate on time.​

    • Attending school regularly beginning in Preschool and Kindergarten will help students to:

      • Gain early reading and math skills

      • Build relationships​

      • Develop good attendance habits throughout your student’s school career

    Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with schoolwork, school anxiety, struggling with a peer, or facing some other difficulty. Reach out to your student's teacher, attendance lead, school counselor or social worker for support. 

    When do absences become a problem?

How We Can Help

  • Staff members from the Office of School Support work to improve school attendance district-wide. Staff members can:

    • Provide ideas to help improve attendance
    • Check in with students
    • Help solve problems
    • Explain the truancy process

    It is hard for a student to be fully prepared and fully engaged when they miss classes. Improved attendance leads to improving academic achievement and increasing graduation rates. The attendance team in the Office of School Support engages schools, students, families, and Ramsey County partners to intervene early when school attendance problems begin. 

     
     

Staff Resources

  • Staff can sign in to view additional resources to support students and families including:

School Attendance Matters Partners

The Law

  • Once enrolled in a public school, a child 5-17 years old must attend school every day, every class, on time, unless lawfully excused. 

    LAWFULLY EXCUSED ABSENCES

    • Sickness - too sick to be in school
    • Medical/ Mental Health/ Dental Appointments (when possible, schedule outside of the school day and attend school before or after appointment)
    • Religious Holidays
    • Extreme Family Emergencies (house fire, death, etc.)

    EXAMPLES OF UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

    • Travel/Vacation
    • Tired from work/travel
    • Weather: Too hot/cold
    • Babysitting
    • Car Trouble
    • Missed Bus
    • Overslept
    • Not immunized
    • Needed at Home